Toy dumping mechanism



July 12, 1966 J. w. RYAN TOY DUMPING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1964 INVENTOR. Jaw/V a/. Eva/v July 12, 1966 J. w. RYAN 3,260,013

TOY DUMPING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 72/9 41 Er/A United States Patent 3,260,013 TOY DUMPING MECHANISM John W. Ryan, Bel Air, Calif., assignor to Mattel, Inc, Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Jan. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 339,412 7 Claims. (Cl. 4640) In general, the present invention involves a toy dumping mechanism adapted to be used with a variety of toys, such as toy dump trucks and toy loading platforms. More particularly, the present invention involves a simple, reliable toy dumping mechanism adapted to compensate for overloads thereon while permitting manual operation.

A favorite pastime of children is to play with toys which imitate actual commercial operation which the child has observed. Thus, children like to play with toy dump trucks which can be loaded with material, such as dirt or sand, and then carried to a desired location where the container portion of the truck body is tilted upwardly to dump its contents. Similarly, when playing with toy trains or toy boats, children like to pile material onto a loading platform and then load the train or boat by tilting the platform upward. However, the toy dumping mechanisms of the prior art in order to accomplish such operation were normally complicated and easily broken during such play. For example, since the child usually lacks an understanding of the capacity of toy dumping mechanisms, he would often overload the container so that the dumping mechanism was incapable of tilting the container when actuated. Consequently, either the drive means or the dumping mechanism would stall or burn out or the dumping mechanism itself would break down under such condition. Also, the childish curiosity may cause the child to attempt to hold down the container or even sit on it when the dumping mechanism was actuated to see what would happen. Needless to say, the usual result would be breaking the dumping mechanism or failure of its drive means. In addition, actual dumping mechanisms are normally designed to slowly tilt the loaded container upwardly to a dump position because of the load thereon and to quickly return the container to a receiving position when it has been dumped. Yet, usual prior art toy dumping mechanisms normally operated at a constant rate, whether the container was being tilted to a dumping position or being returned to a receiving position. Thus, accurate simulation of an actual dumping mechanism was not achieved. Also, operations requiring slow dumping could not be performed, such as when the material being dumped is also being spread-over a large area.

In view of the foregoing state of the prior art, one of the objects of the present invention is a toy dumping mechanism which is not only simple and reliable but also is adapted to compensate for overloads thereon.

Another object of the present invention is a toy dumping mechanism which may be manually operated by the child independently of the normal drive means therefor.

Still another object of the present invention is a toy dumping mechanism which is adapted to tilt a container upwardslowly to a dumping position and to return it quickly to a receiving position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In general, the present invention involves a toy dumping mechanism comprising a dumping arm pivotally mounted on a support axle. Operatively connected with the dumping arm is a positioning means for rotating it to and between a dumping position and a receiving position. Also, pivotally mounted on the support axle is a frame means for supporting a container. The frame means is operatively connected to the dumping arm by 3,26llfi13 Patented July 12, 1966 coupling means which are adapted to permit the dumping arm to regulate the container position under normal loading conditions. In addition, the coupling means is adapted to permit the dumping arm to move independently of the container when the container is overloaded and to permit the container to be manually moved independently of the dumping arm.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made to the appended drawings of a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention. Such drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention which is properly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away perspective view showing the toy dumping mechanism of the present invention mounted on a toy dump truck.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the dumping mechanism and the container regulated thereby in a receiving posit-ion.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the dumping mechanism and its container in a dumping position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the operation of the dumping mechanism when the container is overloaded.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the manual operation of the container independently of the dumping mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along line 66 of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the toy dumping mechanism 10 of the present invention comprises a dumping arm 11 pivotally mounted on a support axle 12, a positioning means 40 Operatively connected with the dumping arm 11, a frame means 20 pivotally mounted on the support axle 12 and coupling means 30 for operatively connecting the dumping arm 11 to the frame means 20. The dumping arm 11 includes a first shaft 13 fixedly mounted on a sleeve 14 which is rotatably mounted on the support axle 12. The sleeve 14 is separated by a sleeve bearing 15 from the support axle 12.

In addition to the dumping arm 13, the frame means 20 is pivotally mounted on the support axle 12 for supporting a container 21. As illustrated, a container 21 is a box-like body similar to that norm-ally found on real dump trucks. However, the container 21 may be any supporting surface carrying material to be dumped, such as a fiat platform or a platform with side and/ or end walls. The frame means 20 includes a post 22 which supports the container 21 and which is mounted on an arcuate strut 23. The strut 23 is in turn mounted on a second shaft 24 which is rotatably mounted on the support axle 12 by means of a second sleeve 25 and the sleeve bearing 15.

Operatively connecting the dumping arm 11 to the frame means 20 is a coupling means 30 which is adapted to permit the dumping arm 11 to regulate the position of the container 21 under normal loading conditions. In addition, the coupling means 30 is adapted to permit the dumping arm 11 to move independently of the container 21 when the container 21 is overloaded and to permit the container 21 to be manually moved independently of the dumping arm 11. The coupling means 30 includes a track means 31 in the form of a circular arch mounted on the strut 23 of the frame means 20. Formed in the track means 31 is a stop means 32 comprising a notch centrally located in the circular arch 31. The coupling means 30 also includes a catch means 33 mounted on the dumping arm 11 and adapted to be engaged with the stop means 32 during the regulation of the position of the container 21 by the dumping arm 11. The catch means 33 is also adapted to be disengaged from the stopmeans 32 to slide on the track means and to be re-eng-aged with the stop means 32 during the independent movement of the dumping arm 11 or container 21. The catch means 33 comprises a detent 34 mounted on the free end of rod 35 which is slidably mounted on the first shaft 13 of the dumping arm 11. The rod 35 is slidably mounted in axially aligned holes 36 and 37 of flanges 16 and 17, respectively, extending from the first shaft 13 between the track means 31 and the support axle 12. Bias-ing the detent 34 into contact with the circular arch 31 is a coil spring 38 which is seated at one end against the flange 37 adjacent the support axle 12 and seated at its other end against a collar 39 fixed to the rod 35.

Operatively connected with the dumping arm 11 is the positioning means 40 for rotating the dumping arm 11 to and between a dumping position (FIG. 3) and a receiving position (FIG. 2). The positioning means 40 is adapted to tilt the container 21 upward slowly to the dumping position and to return it quickly to the receiving position. The positioning means 40 comprises a rotating crank means 41 for rotating the dumping arm 11 in conjunction therewith. The crank means 41 is adapted to rotate the dumping arm 11 to a dumping position over a major portion of its cycle and to a receiving position over a minor portion of its cycle. The crank means 41 comprises a crank arm 42 fixedly mounted on a drive axle 43 which is in turn connected to a power source (not shown), such as an electric motor, for rotating it. On the free end of the crank arm 42 is a pin 44. The positioning means 40 also includes an angle arm 45 fixedly mounted on the dumping arm 11 and extending at an angle to the first shaft 13. The angle arm 45 has an extended longitudinal slot 46 therein in which is received the pin 44 of the crank .arm 42. Thus, the crank 42 is adapted to rotate the dumping ar-m 11 in conjunction with its rotation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-6, the toy dumping mechanism of the present invention is both simply constructed and operated. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, under normal loading conditions the rotation imparted to the crank arm 42 by the drive axle 43 is transmitted through the pin 44, the slot 46, the angle arm 45, to the dumping arm 11. The rotation of the dumping arm 11 is in turn transmitted through the first shaft 13, the flanges 16 and 17, the coupling rod 35, the detent 34, the circular arch 31, to the frame means 20 which support the container 21. Thus, as the crank arm 42 rotates upwardly (FIG. 3), the container 21 is tilted upwardly and, conversely, when the crank arm 42 rotates downwardly (FIG. 2), the container 21 returns to a receiving position; If, as shown in FIG. 4, the load in the container 21 exceeds the capacity of the toy dumping mechanism then the force exerted by the circular arch 31 through the notch 32 on the detent 34 is suflicient to compress the spring 38 of the coupling means 30 and cause the detent 34 to slip out of the notch 32 and ride along the upper portion of the circular arch 31 while the crank arm 42 goes through its normal cycle. Thus, both the drive means and the toy dumping mechanism 10 is protected and the container 21 simply does not tilt under an overload, such as a child sitting thereon. When the crank arm 42 completes its cycle, the detent 32 rides down along the circular arch 31 and is again received into the notch 32 so that when the child removes the overload the toy dumping mechanism 10 is ready to operate again in the normal fashion.

If, as shown in FIG. 5, the child wishes to dump the container 21 manually, he can do so merely by holding on to the container 21 and tilting it upwardly with reference to the remainder of the toy truck. Under such circumstances, the crank arm 42 remains stationary, but the circular arch 31 again exerts sufiicient force on the detent 34 by the notch 32 so that the spring 38 of the coupling means 30 is compressed. The detent 34 then slips out of the notch 32 and rides along the lower portion of the circular arch 31 While the child tilts the container 21 to the desired angle. When the child then returns the container 21 to a receiving position, the detent 34 rides back along the circular arch 31 and is again received in the notch 32. Thus, the toy dumping mechanism is again ready to operate in the normal fashion under a normal load.

Again, looking at FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that under normal operating conditions when the container 21 is in a receiving position the pin 44 on the crank arm 42 is substantially directly below the drive axle 43. When the crank arm 42 begins to rotate in a clockwise direction, as shown, the container 21 begins to tilt upwardly and continues to tilt upwardly until a position of maximum tilt is achieved. As shown, such maximum angle is approximately 50, although it may be any convenient angle in the range of about 30 to However, to achieve such angle of maximum tilt, the pin 44 travels substantially past a position directly above the drive axle 43 and so moves over a major portion of its cycle in rotating the dumping arm to its dumping position. As illustrated, the crank arm 42 moves through an angle of about 210 of the 360 cycle, but such angle may be suitably varied from about to 350, depending on the desired ratio between the time required to dump the container 21 and the time required to return it to its receiving position. Such variation may be achieved in many ways. For example, to increase the time for dumping and correspondingly decrease the time to return the container to a receiving position, one may decrease the distance between the drive axle 43 and the support axle 22 or increase the length of the crank arm 42. Also, by altering the angle between the angle arm 45 and the first shaft 13 so that the receiving position of the pin 44 occurs before it reaches a position below the drive axle 43, the dumping time is correspondingly increased.

Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, note the discussion above with reference to the changing of the proportion of the dumping time to the return time for the container. Also, if desired, the angle arm may be eliminated and its slot formed in the first shaft of the dumping arm or different support axles may be used for the dumping arm and the frame means. In addition, in place of the crank arm and pin and slot arrangement illustrated, a cam wheel and follower may be used to rotate the dumping arm, although it lacks the positive mechanical engagement of the pin and slot arrangement. Similarly, other means may be used in place of the notch in the circular arch and other shapes may be used in place of the circular shape for the arch, as long as a smooth curve is maintained.

There are many features in the present invention which clearly show the significant advance the present invention represents over the prior art. Consequently, only a few of the more outstanding features will be pointed out to illustrate the unexpected and unusual results attained by the present invention. One feature of the present invention is a toy dumping mechanism which is adapted to compensate for overloads thereon, so that the structure of the dumping mechanism is protected, as well as the drive means. Thus, when the container connected to the toy dumping mechanism is overloaded, the toy dumping mechanism simply goes through its normal cycle without tilting the container and again resumes a position ready to tilt the container when the overload is removed. Another feature of the present invention is that the toy dumping mechanism permits manual tilting of the container without damaging the toy dumping mechanism. Thus, if the child wishes to examine the structure and pulls the container away from the remainder of the mechanism, the dumping mechanism will permit such movement. When the container is then returned to its normal receiving position, the dumping mechanism is again ready to operate in the normal fashion. Still another feature of the present invention is the slow dumping of the container followed by a fast return to a receiving position. With such arrangement, the child may use the dumping mechanism to spread the contents of the container over a large area. Also, the actual movement of real dump trucks is accurately reproduced.

It will be understood that the foregoing description and examples are only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto. All substitutions, alterations and modifications of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims or to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure are considered part of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A simple, reliable toy dumping mechanism adapted to compensate for overloads thereon while permitting manual operation, comprising:

(a) a dumping arm pivotally mounted on a support axle;

(b) positioning means operatively connected with said dumping arm for rotating it to and between a dumping position and a receiving position;

(c) pivotally mounted frame means for supporting a container; and

(d) coupling means for operatively connecting said dumping arm to said frame means, said coupling means being adapted to permit said dumping arm to regulate said container position under normal loading conditions of said container, to permit said dumping arm to move independently of said container when said container is overloaded and to permit said container to be manually moved independently of said dumping arm.

2. A toy dumping mechanism as stated in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes track means mounted on said frame means, stop means mounted on said track means and catch means mounted on said dumping arm, said catch means being adapted to be engaged with said stop means during the regulation of said container position by said dumping arm and being adapted to be disengaged from said stop means, to slide on said track means and to be re-engaged with said stop means during independent movement of said dumping arm or container.

3. A toy dumping mechanism as stated in claim 2 wherein said track means comprises a circular arch.

4. A toy dumping mechanism as stated in claim 3 wherein said stop means comprises a notch centrally located in said circular arch.

5. A toy dumping mechanism as stated in claim 4 wherein said catch means comprises a detent slidably mounted on said dumping arm and biased into contact with said circular arch.

6. A simple, reliable, toy dumping mechanism adapted to compensate for overloads thereon while permitting operation and to tilt a container upward slowly to a dumping position and to return it quickly to a receiving position, comprising:

(a) a dumping arm pivotally mounted on a support axle;

(b) positioning means operatively connected with said dumping arm for rotating it to and between a dumping position and a receiving position, said positioning means comprising rotating crank means for rotating said dumping arm in conjunction therewith, said crank means being adapted to rotate said dumping arm to a dumping position over a major portion of its cycle and to a receiving position over a minor portion of its cycle;

(0) pivotally mounted frame means for supporting a container; and

(d) coupling means for operatively connecting said dumping arm to said frame means, said coupling means being adapted to permit said dumping arm to regulate said container position under normal loading conditions of said container, to permit said dumping arm to move independently of said container when said container is overloaded, and to permit said container to be manually moved independently of said dumping arm.

7. A toy dumping mechanism as stated in claim 6 wherein said positioning means comprises an angle arm fixedly mounted on said dumping arm, said angle arm having an extended slot therein and said crank means comprises a crank arm fixedly mounted on a drive axle, said crank arm having a pin on its free end slidably received in said angle arm slot and adapted to rotate said dumping arm in conjunction with the rotation of said crank arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,602,424 10/1926 Wood 46214 2,172,416 9/1939 Swenson 46214 X 3,066,437 12/1962 Cohn 46-39 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

L. J. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SIMPLE, RELIABLE TOY DUMPING MECHANISM ADAPTED TO COMPENSATE FOR OVERLOADS THEREON WHILE PERMITTING MANUAL OPERATION, COMPRISING: (A) A DUMPING ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A SUPPORT AXLE; (B) POSITIONING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID DUMPING ARM FOR ROTATING IT TO AND BETWEEN A DUMPING POSITION AND A RECEIVING POSITION; (C) PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FRAME MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A CONTAINER; AND (D) COUPLING MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID DUMPING ARM TO SAID FRAME MEANS, SAID COUPLING 